Basically, no shows are taking place due to the coronavirus outbreak (although some artists are doing live streams instead), but if you’re already watching a show, or just need a ‘a brief distraction from the craziness of the world right now, luckily there’s YouTube which has an incredible range of live footage from all over pop music history, film clips from concerts, TV performances and live music. other professionally shot footage, to tons of fan-shot videos from shows. If you’re looking for a place to start, we’ve selected some of our favorites. Here are five more:
Neil Young on the BBC in 1971
The fireside sessions Neil Young did in quarantine have been a reminder of how powerful Neil is with just an acoustic guitar or piano and his voice, so here’s a live concert Neil recorded in the early 70s for the BBC which finds it in this very format. It was recorded before Harvest was released but includes a handful of songs that ended up on this album, and as you’d expect from a Neil Young solo gig in 1971, the whole thing is totally mesmerizing. [Andrew Sacher]
Phoenix @ Lollapalooza 2013
As good as Phoenix can be saved – like it’s 2008 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — they’re even better live, a tight, well-oiled hit machine that’s been given an extra boost by their amazing touring drummer Thomas Hedlund who plays like he’s in a punk band. Phoenix is an ideal festival band for these reasons, like at Lollapalooza 2013 where they supported their album Bankruptcy! but kept the old favorites coming.
Soulwax @ Fabriclive (and 120 other locations), 2005/2006
Acclaimed DJs who also fronted rock band Soulwax, the Dewalae brothers combined the two for the mind-blowing Nite Versions tour, which treated a Soulwax show like a DJ set – a non-stop dance party with the songs rolling. for an hour, with builds, drops and a killer light show. Using a single camera, Soulwax filmed every date on their Nite Versions tour, from small clubs to giant festivals, then edited them all into one fantastic concert film. (It was originally a bonus feature on the Soulwax documentary DVD Part of the weekend never dies.) Soulwax postponed their spring tour because their new set wasn’t finished on time — which worked out in regards to the coronavirus — and is now slated to arrive in October. Fingers crossed that these shows perform like Night Versions as they last made their way across North America.
X-Ray Spex @ The Hope & Anchor, London – 1978
London punk legends X-Ray Spex played this show at a local pub Hope and Anchor in 1978 before their now classic debut album Germ Free Teens came out, and it was recorded with an interview with Poly Styrene for the The London Weekend Show. The footage is a bit blurry, and some of the band’s set is dubbed with voiceovers from the show’s narrator, but none of that stops these extremely rare footage from showing just how X-Ray Spex was a killer live band for their short duration. initial race. And Poly’s carefree interviews only make them even cooler. [Andrew Sacher]
Beach House @ Bell House, 01/26/2010
Playing the release show for their third (and best) album, teenage dream, Beach House were at the top of their game, layering hypnotic, dreamy sounds under the authoritative voice of Victoria Legrand. They play almost everything teenage dreamas well as some of the best songs from their second album, Devotion (“Gila” and “Heart of Chambers”) and you couldn’t ask for a better setlist. [Amanda Hatfield]
For more of our favorite live videos, head here.
